Bather&#39;s life protector



Patented ailing.. 12, 1924.

`lith/.fills R. l/VILLIAMS, Ol? CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BATHERS LIFE PROTECTR.

4Application filed July 11, 1923.V VSerial No. 650,887'.

To all Lo/lem t may Coface/m:

Be it lrnown that l, JAMns R. lWInLrAMs, a citizen Vof the United States, residing at .(lleveland, in the county of lCuyahoga and head-gear and which may be used for amusement purposes at bathing resorts or the like or which may be used for life saving purposes, the cap being equipped with means for insuring buoyancy., whereby the wearer will be supported in the water and prevented from sinking and drowning.

An important and more speciiic object is the provision of a cap of this character which is collapsible and which includes a plurality of pockets which may be inflated by the wearer when the device is to be used.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bathers life protector whereby cer tain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, l will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1- is a view in front elevation of a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure Q is a top plan view of the device as herein disclosed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view.

As disclosed in the accompanying.;` drawings, my improved device comprises a cap like structure C adapted to be engaged over the head of a wearer and provided in its forward portion with an opening 1 through which the face is exposed. The lower portion 2 of the front `part of the cap engages beneath the chin of the wearer whereby the device is partly held thereby in applied position. The upper portion of the cap C at a point above the opening 1 is provided at opposite sides of the Acap with the adjusting straps 3 .coacting in a well known manner whereby the upper portion of the cap C may be caused Yto tightly fit the head on a line with the forehead to provide additional means for maintaining the cap in applied position.

The lower portion of the cap C is continued by an outwardly flared cape 4: which, when the device is in applied position, extends over the shoulders and downv partly over the chest and back.

The exact .construction of the device may of .course be varied within certain limits though in actual practice it is made of rubber of any suitable grade and of any desired number of plys or layers. The essential feature lies in the provision of a lseries of pockets 5 which extend from the lower edge of the cape l to the head and these pockets 5 are preferably tapered upwardly as disclosed. The upper ends of the pockets communicate through tubes 6 at suitable points and two of the pockets have in communi cation therewith the air inlet tubes 7 terminating in mouth pieces 8 and preferably equipped with some species of check valve or other means (not shown) for preventing outlet of air from the pockets after they are filled.

As is particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the tubes 6 extend upwardly of the cap like structure C and across the top or crown thereof.

A convenient manner of forming the pockets is to construct the body of the device of a base layer 9 against which is disposed` a layer 10 which is shaped to provide the pockets 5, the layers 9 and 10 being cemented or otherwise connecte-d at points between the pockets.

The peripheral portion of the cape t is provided with the circumferentially spaced loops 11 through which is directed a strap 12, the extremities of which being adjustably connected in a well known manner as at 14. The strap 12 provides means: whereby the cape 4 is maintained in desired position when the device is in use. TIn other words to. maintain the cape in close proximity to the body of the wearer.

rlhe tubes 6 are so arranged that upon blowing through a single tube 7, an equal numbei` ofl pockets lwill be inflated in the front and rear portion of the device, namely; in the present embodiment of the invention, two infront andA two in the rear. 5 By this it is to be understood that the pockets 5 are to constitute two series and that each series of pockets is self-supporting.

From the foregoing description it is thought. to beobvious that a bathers life prortecton yconstructed in` -accordance wlith my invention is particularly well Yadapted for use by reason of thek convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, andrit will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modilication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood asV limiting myself to the precise arrange- Y ment and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

vI claim l. A device of the class described comprising a cap like structure having a cut out portion for the accommodation of the wearers face, a. cape depending from the cap like structure, said cape being provided with a plurality of inflatable pocket-s, said pockets being divided into series, tubes connecting the pockets of one series with the pockets of a second series, said tubes being disposed upwardly of the cap like structure and across the top or crown thereof, and means for inflating eachy series of pockets.

2. A device of the class described comprising a head encircling member having a cut out portion for the. accommodation of a wearers face, a continuous cape depending from the member, said cape being provided therearo-und with a plurality of inflatable pockets, said pockets extending from the lower edge of the cape to the head encircling member and being spaced in a direction circumferentially of the cape, circumferentially spaced loops carried by the peripheral portion of the cape, and a strap directed therethrough and provided with means whereby its extremities may be adjustably connected.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

J AMES R. WILLIAMS. 

